Gas Drilling Emergency in Bradford County

Gas Drilling Emergency in Bradford County

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is at a natural gas drilling site in Bradford County where, officials said, crews were fracking when a well blew out near the surface. (WNEP)

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is at a natural gas drilling site in Bradford County where, officials said, crews were fracking when a well blew out near the surface.

A massive operation is underway in Bradford County to deal with a spill at a natural gas well in LeRoy Township near Canton.

DEP, Bradford County public safety, Chesapeake Energy and more are very active in the farming community.

Bradford County's director of public safety said a Chesapeake well went out of control late Tuesday night. That means the well blew near the surface, spilling thousands and thousands of gallons of frack fluid over containment walls, through fields, personal property and farms, even where cattle continue to graze.

DEP is taking ground water and stream samples to determine the extent of the spill.

Officials said fluids from the well have, in fact, contaminated Towanda Creek which feeds into the Susquehanna River.

There are no injuries reported from the incident.

People who live around the well site were approached and asked to evacuate as a precaution. According to Chesapeake, seven families living near the well have been moved until the situation is safe.

Currently Chesapeake energy is attempting to kill the well, according to Bradford County's public safety director.

In a statement, Chesapeake said crews are working to control the leak and contain the fluid flow. The company said all relevant emergency agencies have been notified and are either on the scene or on the way.

All essential non-essential workers have been pulled from the scene, according to Chesapeake.

Newswatch 16 has a crew on the scene and will continue to have the latest information as it becomes available.

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